Seasonal Report - Fall 2022
Lycoming County Fall 2022 Summary
In total, 195 species were reported in Lycoming County during the fall.
Notable Observations
Observer abbreviations include: Bobby Brown (BB — county compiler), Dan Brauning (DanB), Bob Brown (BoB), David Brown (DB), Deb Brown (DeB), Rebecca Brown (RB), Jonathan DeBalko (JD), Dave Ferry (DF), Tom Forwood Jr. (TF), John Good (JG), Eric Hartshaw (EH), Melissa Holland (MH), Evan Houston (EvH), Andy Keister (AK), Allison Matlock (AM), Eric Zawatski (EZ)
m. obs. = many observers
Waterfowl
A Green-winged Teal was at Rose Valley Lake on 8/13 (BB), and two were at the same location on 8/27 (BB). Those are the first two reports of that species in Lycoming County during August.
A single Surf Scoter was at Rose Valley Lake on 10/2 (BB) and 10/7-13 (m.obs.), and at the same location on 11/15 (EH). Two Black Scoters were at Rose Valley Lake 11/17-19 (EZ, et al.), and one was present at that location 11/23 (BB, RB, JG). A Long-tailed Duck was at the Williamsport Dam on 11/2 (BB). The only report of Red-breasted Merganser was one bird at Rose Valley Lake on 11/19 (BB, EH).
Grebes
A Red-necked Grebe was at Rose Valley Lake on 10/5 (BB, DeB, BoB). An Eared Grebe was found at Rose Valley Lake on 11/12 (BB, EH) and was reported through 11/19 (m.obs.). That bird represents Lycoming County's fifth record of that species.
Rails
A Sora was heard calling at SGL 252 on 9/25 (BB, AK).
Shorebirds
An American Avocet was at the Williamsport Dam on 8/20 (BB, DeB, BoB, et al.). That bird represents Lycoming County's fourth record of that species.
A Black-bellied Plover was in Nisbet 10/4-5 (AM, et al.). American Golden-Plovers were seen in Nisbet a number of times during the fall, including up to 5 birds on 9/7-8 (BB, DeB, BoB, et al.), one on 9/19 (AM), and 3 on 10/4-5 (AM, et al.). Additionally, one flew over Rose Valley Lake on 9/24 (BB). A Semipalmated Plover was at the Williamsport Dam 8/21-22 (BB, DB).
Two Buff-breasted Sandpipers were in Nisbet on 9/7 (EH, et al.). Those birds represent Lycoming County's second record of that species. Two Pectoral Sandpipers were at SGL 252 on 8/28 (BB, AK), and one was at the same location on 9/4 (BB).
Gulls and Terns
A group of 8 Black Terns dropped in at Rose Valley Lake on 8/20 (DanB).
Herons
A fairly late Great Egret was at Rose Valley Lake on 10/22 (AM, BB, DeB, BoB).
Woodpeckers
A juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker was seen near SGL 252 on 8/28 (BB, AK) and a family group of 5 birds was seen at the same location on 9/4 (BB). An adult was at Rose Valley Lake on 9/18 (AM, BB). One was also reported along the Pine Creek Rail Trail on 9/21 (TF). Finally, 3 were at the Lycoming County Conservation Trail on 10/16 (EH, et al.).
Flycatchers
An Olive-sided Flycatcher was at SGL 252 on 8/14 (BB, AK) and one was at the Robert Porter Allen Natural Area on 9/2 (AM).
Vireos
A White-eyed Vireo was at SGL 252 on 8/14 and 8/28 (BB, AK). A fairly drab (but ultimately unidentified) Cassin's/Blue-headed Vireo was at SGL 252 on 10/30 (BB, EvH).
Shrikes
A Northern Shrike was found at Rose Valley Lake on 11/26 (BB).
Wrens
A Marsh Wren was at Rose Valley Lake 10/2-5 (AM, et al.) and one was at the Robert Porter Allen Natural Area on 10/18 (AM).
Finches
A number of small groups of Evening Grosbeaks were reported throughout the county during November (m.obs.). Similarly, there were scattered reports of Pine Siskins during November (m.obs.).
Longspurs
A Lapland Longspur was at the Robert Porter Allen Natural Area on 9/28 (BB) and 2 were in Cogan House Twp. on 11/16 (EH).
Sparrows
A late Grasshopper Sparrow was at the Robert Porter Allen Natural Area on 10/23 (BB). A Nelson's Sparrow was at the Robert Porter Allen Natural Area on 10/11 (AM). That bird represents the first confirmed record of the species in Lycoming County.
Blackbirds
A late Bobolink was at the Robert Porter Allen Natural Area on 10/16 (BB).
Warblers
An Orange-crowned Warbler was at Rose Valley Lake on 10/2 (BB, et al.). A Connecticut Warbler was at Rose Valley Lake on 9/14 (BB), and one was at the Lycoming County Conservation Trail on 10/15 (MH). A late Common Yellowthroat was reported in Slate Run on 11/12 (DF), and a late one was also at Rose Valley Lake, with an initial report of 11/19 (JD) and continuing through the end of the fall season and into the winter season. A very late Yellow Warbler was found at Rose Valley Lake on 11/27 (BB).
28 species of warbler were reported during the fall:
- Ovenbird
- Worm-eating Warbler
- Blue-winged Warbler
- Black-and-white Warbler
- Tennessee Warbler
- Orange-crowned Warbler
- Nashville Warbler
- Connecticut Warbler
- Mourning Warbler
- Common Yellowthroat
- Hooded Warbler
- American Redstart
- Cape May Warbler
- Northern Parula
- Magnolia Warbler
- Bay-breasted Warbler
- Blackburnian Warbler
- Yellow Warbler
- Chestnut-sided Warbler
- Blackpoll Warbler
- Black-throated Blue Warbler
- Palm Warbler
- Pine Warbler
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- Prairie Warbler
- Black-throated Green Warbler
- Canada Warbler
- Wilson's Warbler
Addendum
Photos of a previously-unknown Eared Grebe in breeding plumage were discovered from Rose Valley Lake on 5/1/2018 (MH). This would become Lycoming County's third known record, and shift the 2020 record to fourth, and the 2022 record to fifth.
Videos
The Fall 2022 report was compiled and written by Bobby Brown. Our seasonal reports cover March-May (Spring), June and July (Summer), August-November (Fall) and December-February (Winter) to better line up with migration, breeding and wintering timings.
